Being seen at intersections

**Berries** · 2nd September 2012, 09:42

Originally Posted by sootie

Wow, 5 forward lights & still invisible!

More cars get pulled out on than bikes. Trucks get people pulling put on them, so do trains. As I said before, you can do all you want to make yourself look like a supernova but it won't work all the time. If it isn't going to work every time then you have to be ready to take evasive action every time, and if you are ready to take evasive action all the time, which we all should be, then I cannot see the point of getting all lit up.

**sootie** · 2nd September 2012, 10:02

Originally Posted by Berries

More cars get pulled out on than bikes. Trucks get people pulling put on them, so do trains. As I said before, you can do all you want to make yourself look like a supernova but it won't work all the time. If it isn't going to work every time then you have to be ready to take evasive action every time, and if you are ready to take evasive action all the time, which we all should be, then I cannot see the point of getting all lit up.

I don't actually want to dodge people more than I have to, and this did happen for a time.

**cheshirecat** · 2nd September 2012, 20:58

Personally i thinks its asking for trouble if one relies on being seen, even if they eyeball you.

**mylodon** · 2nd September 2012, 22:14

i do want to say though -- and i've been all over nz -- this place is really quite good when it comes to bikes... not sure you can ask too much more from folks. i'd say if anything, it's all on the biker.

do rush hour through a California highway system, you'll understand... nz is paradise... the closest adrenaline rush you get here is the two way one-lane 100kph mountain roads. you are are basically going to die at some point, it's just rolling the dice...

**sootie** · 3rd September 2012, 09:20

I am having trouble with this constant reference to total reliance on being seen. Who has suggested this?
I seem to be reading: " I am such a good rider that I can dodge anything, and I don't need to make myself visible"
To this I say "b......t". The roll of the dice statement is much closer to reality.
The more I can load the dice in my favour, the better I like it.

**Berries** · 3rd September 2012, 21:19

Originally Posted by sootie

I am having trouble with this constant reference to total reliance on being seen. Who has suggested this?
I seem to be reading: " I am such a good rider that I can dodge anything, and I don't need to make myself visible"
To this I say "b......t". The roll of the dice statement is much closer to reality.
The more I can load the dice in my favour, the better I like it.

I'd actually word it slightly differently, "I want to survive as a rider therefore I am going to consider myself invisible at all times and ride accordingly*" As soon as you throw gambling metaphors in to the mix you are alleviating responsibility from yourself as a rider. And in my view, relying on someone else to do the right thing is just going to lead to a whole lot of hurt.

*Unfortunately this cloak of invisibility approach does not work with the Police.

**Ocean1** · 3rd September 2012, 21:54

Originally Posted by Berries

I am going to consider myself invisible at all times and ride accordingly

I try for "I'm going to consider that every other fucker is going take his best shot at taking me out given the slightest chance" and ride accordingly.

There's a limit to what I can do about opposing traffic on the open road, other than that very very few people get a shot at me.

**sootie** · 3rd September 2012, 22:42

Hi Berries,
I think I would explain my actual experience as:
I always try to use position, speed & direction to make it impossible for a car to hit me, but I recognise that I can make a misjudgement.
I had been getting it right, but too many vehicles were not seeing me & I took this as a warning to look further.
My bike was very legally visible, but I made it even more visible with side lights & a High Viz Strip.
I still ride the same way, but I do not have as many cars pulling out on me as I used to have.
I believe it was worth noticing that something could be inproved & doing something about it.
Maybe others may find this worth considering. Bikes are still being hit at intersections.

**CookMySock** · 4th September 2012, 22:04

Originally Posted by iYRe

But.. the single biggest factor in being seen.. intimidate the hell out of people in cars. Cars get out of the way... literally..

Damn right! I have literally had cars squeal their tires on a straight road trying to turn away from me because if the fright I gave them - a little OTT in that case, but the general principle applies. Polarise them, give them a few seconds to allow their feelings to rise and figure out where the left of their lane is, and then simply ride around them.

Similar principle with the huge 100W spotties across the front of the Hilux Surf - one flash of those mf, and noooo bitch is gunna fuck wit' chu now, boy!!

**Berries** · 4th September 2012, 23:06

Originally Posted by Ocean1

I try for "I'm going to consider that every other fucker is going take his best shot at taking me out given the slightest chance" and ride accordingly.

Get a full face helmet so that you don't get recognised and I bet the problem goes away.